Narrow my wheelset choices

Don't waste time with any proprietary stuff. Stan's Flow EX all the way! I'd even take the stock Stan's hubs over the stock hubs on those wheelsets listed. Make sure if you go the Stan's route double check with them and get the right front hub for your future upgraded fork. I'm pretty sure the normal front hub will work. The 3.30HD hub is only needed if you want to go up to a 20mm thru axle...I THINK. Don't quote me on it. You really only "need" to upgrade the rear hub to a Hope, if you can afford it. The front Stan's hub is plenty adequate, just not necessarily as blingy as a Hope. It's easily rebuildable and adaptable to your needs. And lightweight...

The most critical part of a wheelset is the rear hub engagement mechanicals. I like Dt star 36 ratchets, 340, 350, 240 or oem versions off ebay. ArchhEx rims, SuperComp spokes with brass nips. Novatec D711 front hub is light at 139g and has changeable end caps. You can lace these together at or under your price point. Easy with a Park TM-1. Another step.

Narrow my wheelset choices

Originally Posted by Bailey44

Me too...

Me three. Just ordered a set of Flow Exs w Hope Pro 2 Evo's from Merlin Cycles for $360 - shipping to US included!!! It looks like they are out of stock now but a quick email is all it would take to see when stock is expected. They have been great in promptly answering my questions thus far. I'll update when they come in but I could not pass this deal up.

My weight and riding style is similar to yours. I've had the Haven wheelset about a year, and with the exception of 2 broken spokes, they've proven to be very stout set. There have been negative past reviews on Havens, but I've not had hub issues and prefer a UST over the non UST. Tire install is painless, haven't had any burping issues at 22-25# front/30-35# rear pressure
If you do go with Easton, recommend ordering a handful of nipples as they are the proprietary issue. Most shops will have straight pull spokes, but rare a shop will have the double threaded Easton nipples.

I'd take WTB Frequencies over Stans, I've had both, when the i25's are released I'll be swapping out my Flow EX's. Add a pair of DTSwiss 350 or Hope hubs and you can have a pretty nice wheelset for your $500, providing you build them yourself. You don't even need a truing stand, your bike and some creatively used popsicle sticks and rubber bands will do the trick. And a spoke wrench.

I have a set eastons on one bike and they have been good wheels but nothing special. For my new bike I went hope hubs with stans archs that I bought from merlin for under 500 shipped in there custom series and they are so much nicer than my eastons or the dt swisses on my fiances bike.